Editing Kilkenny (section)

==Culture==
{{See also|Culture of Ireland|Irish people}}
[[File:St. Marys Cathedral in Kilkenny.jpg|upright|thumb|[[St Mary's Cathedral, Kilkenny|St. Mary's Cathedral, Kilkenny]]]]
[[File:Old Stables, Kilkenny Castle, Cill Chainnigh, Éire (46594981591).jpg|thumb|upright|Kilkenny Design Centre]]

Kilkenny is a popular tourist destination in the [[South-East Region, Ireland|South-East Region]] of Ireland.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019 |title=Tourism Ireland, tourism statistics |url=https://www.tourismireland.com/docs/default-source/visitor-facts-and-figures/visitor-facts-and-figures-2019.pdf?sfvrsn=d5913554_1 |url-status=live |website=tourismireland.com |publisher=Tourism Ireland |accessdate=20 January 2023 |archive-date=26 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230326030634/https://www.tourismireland.com/docs/default-source/visitor-facts-and-figures/visitor-facts-and-figures-2019.pdf?sfvrsn=d5913554_1 }}</ref> Its art galleries, historic buildings, craft and design workshops, theatre, comedy, public gardens and museums are some of the main reasons Kilkenny has become one of Ireland's most visited towns and a base from which to explore the surrounding countryside.{{citation needed|date=June 2021}}

Points of cultural interest in the area include [[Kilkenny Castle]], [[St. Canice's Cathedral]] and round tower, [[Rothe House]], [[St. Mary's Cathedral, Kilkenny|St. Mary's Cathedral]], [[Kells Priory]], [[The Tholsel, Kilkenny|Kilkenny Town Hall]], [[Black Abbey]] and [[Butler Gallery]]. The latter re-opened in August 2020, having moved to a new location in Evan's Home from the former basement kitchen of Kilkenny Castle.<ref name="rte2020">{{cite web | url = https://www.rte.ie/culture/2020/0810/1158383-in-the-picture-kilkennys-new-art-gallery/ | publisher = RTÉ | website = rte.ie | title = In The Picture: Kilkenny's new art gallery | date = 17 August 2020 | accessdate = 24 June 2021 | archive-date = 24 June 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210624211403/https://www.rte.ie/culture/2020/0810/1158383-in-the-picture-kilkennys-new-art-gallery/ | url-status = live }}</ref>

===Arts and festivals===
Kilkenny is a festival location throughout the year.

Kilkenny Tradfest takes place over the St. Patrick's Day weekend in March and includes the St. Patrick's Day festivities, the parade and the Tradfest music festival, which highlights Irish traditional and folk music.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://kilkennytradfest.com/|title=Home – Kilkenny Tradfest|website=Kilkenny Tradfest|access-date=23 September 2017|archive-date=14 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170914154106/http://kilkennytradfest.com/|url-status=live}}</ref>

The Kilkenny Roots Festival is held on the first weekend of May and features Americana/Bluegrass/Folk/Rockabilly/AltCountry artists in various indoor venues throughout the city. Since 1998 the festival has attracted musicians from the Americana/Roots genre, including [[Calexico (band)|Calexico]], [[Giant Sand]], [[Ryan Adams]], [[Alejandro Escovedo]], [[Guy Clark]], [[Chuck Prophet]], [[Ray LaMontagne]], [[Richmond Fontaine]], [[Rodney Crowell]], [[Phosphorescent (band)|Phosphorescent]], [[Sturgill Simpson]] and [[Alabama Shakes]].<ref name="kilkennyroots.com"/>

Kilkenny hosts the annual [[Cat Laughs]] comedy festival every June bank holiday week.

The [[Kilkenny Arts Festival]] established in the 1970s takes place in late August. During this time Kilkenny plays host to contemporary art, with theatre, dance, visual art, literature, film, painting, sculptures and live performances. Musical events, including traditional, classical, world music and jazz, take place during the festival.

Savour Kilkenny is a food festival which happens in October every year.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.savourkilkenny.com/|title=Savour Kilkenny – Festival of Food – October Bank Holiday Weekend 2017|website=Savourkilkenny.com|access-date=23 September 2017|archive-date=13 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170913184137/http://www.savourkilkenny.com/|url-status=live}}</ref> In November, Kilkenny stages Kilkenomics, the world's first economics and comedy festival.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://kilkenomics.com/|title=Kilkenomics – The World's First Economics & Comedy Festival|website=kilkenomics.com|access-date=15 June 2020|archive-date=7 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200707004648/https://kilkenomics.com/|url-status=live}}</ref>
Venues such as the Watergate Theatre host a range of home-produced and touring performances in dance, music and theatre.

===Music===
{{See also|Music of Ireland}}
Music groups from the Kilkenny area include [[Folk music of Ireland|traditional musicians]] as well as bands like [[Kerbdog]], [[Engine Alley]] and [[My Little Funhouse]].{{citation needed|date=March 2022}} Other groups include [[R.S.A.G.]], whose double album ''Organic Sampler'' received a [[Irish Album of the Year 2008|Choice Music Prize]] nomination for Irish Album of the Year 2008.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.choicemusicprize.ie/portfolio-item/2008/|title=2008 – Choice Music Prize|publisher=[[Choice Music Prize]]|access-date=15 June 2020|archive-date=3 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200803082145/http://www.choicemusicprize.ie/portfolio-item/2008/|url-status=live}}</ref> Some pubs have [[Irish traditional music session]]s. The Kilkenny Roots Festival takes place each May Bank Holiday weekend.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.kilkennyroots.com|title=Official Rhythm & Roots Website|website=Kilkennyroots.com|access-date=23 September 2017|archive-date=16 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170916035353/http://kilkennyroots.com/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Kilkenny is mentioned in several songs, including in "When You Danced With Me" on [[ABBA]]'s 2021 album ''[[Voyage (ABBA album)|Voyage]]''.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.newstalk.com/news/abba-and-kilkenny-tom-dunne-on-their-new-album-1273802 | website = newstalk.com | title = Tom Dunne on ABBA's "tour de force" Voyage to Kilkenny | date = 5 November 2021 | accessdate = 13 March 2022 | archive-date = 5 November 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20211105221238/https://www.newstalk.com/news/abba-and-kilkenny-tom-dunne-on-their-new-album-1273802 | url-status = live }}</ref>

The [[Kilkenny Arts Festival]] is held every August. A concert, 'Source', is held in [[Nowlan Park]] and has attracted musical performers such as [[Rod Stewart]], [[Shania Twain]], [[Bob Dylan]], [[Paul Simon]] and [[Andrea Bocelli]]. [[Dolly Parton]] headlined at the 2008 event. [[Bruce Springsteen]] played 2 consecutive nights in July 2013 to finish the European leg of his World tour.

[[St Canice's Cathedral]] sometimes hosts classical musicians and choirs. The Kilkenny Choir and a gospel choir have performed in churches throughout the town. Groups like [[Ex Cathedra]] have played during the Kilkenny Arts Festival. Cleere's pub and theatre on Parliament Street are known for touring Irish and international bands including indie, jazz and blues. They also have a traditional music session every Monday night, as does Ryan's on Friary Street on Thursdays.{{citation needed|date=March 2022}}

===Theatre===
{{See also|Irish theatre}}
Kilkenny had a tradition of dramatic performance going back to 1366 when the Dublin company set up in Kilkenny. Henry Burkhead printed a play in Kilkenny, ''Cola's Fury, or Lirenda's Misery'' (1645),  dealing with events of the Irish [[Rebellion of 1641]] from an English standpoint. It was a blatantly political work with the Lirenda of the title being an anagram of Ireland. In 1642, as a result of the [[English Civil War]], Dublin [[Cavalier|Royalist]]s were forced to flee the city. Many of them went to Kilkenny to join a [[Kilkenny Confederacy|confederacy]] of Old English and Irish that formed in that city.

In 1802 Sir Richard and Sir John Power of Kilfane established the Kilkenny Private Theatre.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/privatetheatrek00theagoog |title=The private theatre of Kilkenny |via=[[Internet Archive]] |year=1825 |access-date=2010-08-12}}</ref>

The Watergate Theatre in Kilkenny is a centre for the performing and visual arts.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.watergatetheatre.com/ |title=Watergate Theatre official website |publisher=Watergatetheatre.com |date=2010-02-13 |access-date=2010-08-12 |archive-date=14 April 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090414125604/http://www.watergatetheatre.com/ |url-status=live }}</ref> It provides a varied programme of professional and amateur dramatics, classical and contemporary music, opera and dance, together with exhibitions of paintings and photographs. The Set Theatre is a smaller theatre located on John Street in Kilkenny.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://set.ie/|title=Set|website=set.ie|access-date=15 June 2020|archive-date=15 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200615113251/https://set.ie/|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Film===
Award-winning animated studio [[Cartoon Saloon]], as well as the film production companies [[Young Irish Film Makers]] and Mycrofilms, are all based in Kilkenny.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.kilkennypeople.ie/news/home/221058/the-inaugural-kilkenny-film-festival-will-be-here-in-december.html | publisher = Kilkenny People | website = kilkennypeople.ie | title = The inaugural Kilkenny Film Festival will be here in December | date = 24 October 2016 | access-date = 4 September 2019 | quote = ''Local studio Young Irish Film Makers have been {{sic|hide=y|been}} a key component of film production and training locally [..and..] Cartoon Saloon have gone from the small screen to Hollywood'' | archive-date = 4 September 2019 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190904104931/https://www.kilkennypeople.ie/news/home/221058/the-inaugural-kilkenny-film-festival-will-be-here-in-december.html | url-status = live }}</ref> Kilkenny has also hosted the Subtitle European Film Festival each November since 2012.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.iftn.ie/news/?act1=record&only=1&aid=73&rid=4287792&tpl=archnews&force=1 | publisher = The Irish Film & Television Network | website = iftn.ie | title = Programme for Subtitle European Film Festival, Kilkenny running November 24th–30th | date = 24 November 2014 | access-date = 4 September 2019 | archive-date = 2 August 2020 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200802212656/http://www.iftn.ie/news/?act1=record&only=1&aid=73&rid=4287792&tpl=archnews&force=1 | url-status = live }}</ref>

===Media===
====Radio====
[[KCLR 96FM|KCLR]] radio station serves counties [[County Carlow|Carlow]] and [[County Kilkenny|Kilkenny]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.kclr96fm.com/|title=KCLR 96FM Official Website|website=Kclr96fm.com|access-date=23 September 2017|archive-date=20 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170920113229/http://kclr96fm.com/|url-status=live}}</ref> It is based at both the Broadcast Centre on the Carlow Road, Kilkenny and Exchequer House, Potato Market, Carlow. [[KCLR 96FM|KCLR]] is available on 96FM and is an independent local [[radio station]]. As of 2009, KCLR had 60% weekly reach and 33% weekday share.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.bci.ie/documents/jnlr_july08_jun09.pdf|title=BCI&nbsp;– JNRL Figures for July 08 – June 09|access-date=2009-08-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091014222627/http://www.bci.ie/documents/jnlr_july08_jun09.pdf|archive-date=2009-10-14|url-status=dead}}</ref> [[KCLR 96FM]] began broadcasting in May 2004 replacing Radio Kilkenny.

Radio Kilkenny, which began as a pirate station Kilkenny Community Radio,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.radiokilkenny.ie/|title=Radio Kilkenny Website|website=Radiokilkenny.ie|access-date=23 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121019225450/http://www.radiokilkenny.ie/|archive-date=2012-10-19|url-status=dead}}</ref> received a licensed to broadcast to Kilkenny city and county on 96.0&nbsp;MHz,96.6&nbsp;MHz and 106.3&nbsp;MHz in 1988. Radio Kilkenny had 63% of the radio listeners in County Kilkenny and 16% in County Carlow but failed to secure a franchise in 2003 when the [[Broadcasting Commission of Ireland]] changed the station's franchise area to include Carlow. The station ceased broadcasting at 2:10&nbsp;a.m. on 1 January 2004.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://debates.oireachtas.ie/DDebate.aspx?F=MAJ20040225.xml&Ex=All&Page=2|title=Parliamentary Debates|first=Fujitsu/Oireachtas Lotus Notes/Domino Development|last=Team|website=Debates.oireachtas.ie|access-date=23 September 2017}}</ref>

[[Beat 102-103]] is a regional youth radio station broadcasting across the South East of Ireland. It serves a population of about 450,000, and in August 2006 it had a 49% share of the southeast market.

====Print media====
{{See also|List of newspapers in Ireland}}
[[File:Finn's Leinster Journal 1794.jpg|thumb|upright|''[[Finns Leinster Journal]]'']]

Newspapers have been produced in Kilkenny for centuries. Longstanding examples include ''[[Finns Leinster Journal]]'' (later the ''[[Kilkenny Journal]]'') from 1767 to 1965, the ''[[Kilkenny People]]'' from 1916 to 1992, and the ''Kilkenny Moderator'' from 1814 to 1916.<ref>Many are held in the [[Kilkenny Archaeological Society]] Library at [[Rothe House]], others are available to view on microfiche at Kilkenny County Library</ref> Other papers included the ''Leinster Independent'' from 1872; the ''Kilkenny Chronicle'' from 1813; the ''Kilkenny Courier''; ''Tipperary Examiner'' from 1858; the ''Kilkenny Express'' and the ''Wexford Express'' from 1875; ''The Post'' (a sister paper to ''Kilkenny People'') from 1926; the ''Kilkenny Standard'' from 1979, the ''Kilkenny People'' in 1895, ''[[The Kilkenny Voice]]'' (2005–2008) and also the ''Kilkenny Advertiser''.{{citation needed|date=October 2018}}

''[[Finns Leinster Journal|Finn's Leinster Journal]]'' (1767–1801) was founded by Edmund Finn in 1767. It was published in Kilkenny but some content was relevant to Carlow. It was continued as ''[[Leinster Journal]]'' (1801–1830) and the ''Kilkenny Journal'' from 1832.<ref>{{cite web|url = https://www.irishnewsarchive.com/finns-leinster-journal-newspaper-archive-historic-newspaper | publisher = irishnewsarchive.com | title = The Finn's Leinster Journal Newspaper Archive 1771 – 1828 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20181025140227/https://www.irishnewsarchive.com/finns-leinster-journal-newspaper-archive-historic-newspaper | archive-date = 25 October 2018 }}</ref>

The ''Moderator'' (1814–1822) changed its name to ''Kilkenny Moderator'' 1822–1919 and reverted to ''Moderator'' from 1920 to 1925.

The modern ''Kilkenny People'' was first published in 1895. It is a weekly paper. According to the [[Audit Bureau of Circulations (UK)|Audit Bureau of Circulations]], the ''Kilkenny People'' had an average weekly [[Newspaper circulation|circulation]] of 17,578 for the first six months of 2006.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.abc-ireland.ie/|title=Home – ABC – Audit Bureau of Circulations|website=Abc-ireland.ie|access-date=23 September 2017|archive-date=19 November 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071119030804/http://www.abc-ireland.ie/|url-status=live}}</ref> It is printed by the ''Kilkenny People Group'' at Purcellsinch and the group also publishes a number of other regional papers.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.kilkenny.ie/eng/About_Kilkenny/People/Media/ | publisher = Kilkenny.ie | title = About Kilkenny – Media – Newspapers | access-date = 25 October 2018 | archive-date = 12 October 2018 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20181012210700/http://www.kilkenny.ie/eng/About_Kilkenny/People/Media/ | url-status = dead }}</ref>

====Photography====
Photographic Collections of Kilkenny include the ''Lawrence Collection'' c. 1900, the ''Crawford Collection'' c. 1940, the ''Valentine Collection'' c. 1950, the ''Bolton Street Students' Survey'' c. 1970, the ''Industrial Archaeologica Survey'' c. 1989, the ''Carrigan Collection'' and the ''St. John's Parish Collection'', as well as many historical postcards.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://kilkennylibrary.kilkenny.ie/eng/Local_Studies/Local_Studies_.html|title=kilkenny library Local Studies&nbsp;– Photographic Collection|website=Kilkennylibrary.kilkenny.ie|access-date=23 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090917190842/http://kilkennylibrary.kilkenny.ie/eng/Local_Studies/Local_Studies_.html|archive-date=2009-09-17|url-status=dead}}</ref>

{{wide image|Kilkenny_city_panorama_2006-01-29.jpg|800px|Panorama of Kilkenny}}

===Community===
====Awards====
Kilkenny was named as the Academy of Urbanism European Great Town for 2008.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.academyofurbanism.org.uk/awards.htm |title=Academy of Urbanism |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080119212642/http://www.academyofurbanism.org.uk/awards.htm |archive-date=2008-01-19 }}</ref> The Academy Chairman, John Thompson, said: "it is great to have an Irish town coming through in this year's awards, especially Kilkenny which is coming to terms with economic growth without losing its wonderful character and humour". Kilkenny won the [[Irish Tidy Towns Competition]] in 1985.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.tidytowns.ie/u_documents/The_Tidy_Towns_of_Ireland.pdf|title=Irish Tidy Towns Competition| url-status=dead| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160419221202/http://tidytowns.ie/u_documents/The_Tidy_Towns_of_Ireland.pdf |archive-date=2016-04-19}}</ref>

====Twinned cities====
Kilkenny is twinned with [[Moret-sur-Loing]] in France,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ville-moret-sur-loing.com/la-mairie/liens-divers.html|title=Liens – Site de la ville de Moret-sur-loing|first=Mairie de Moret-sur-loing – O.|last=Suty|website=Ville-moret-sur-loing.com|access-date=23 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170421202357/http://www.ville-moret-sur-loing.com/la-mairie/liens-divers.html|archive-date=21 April 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> [[Formigine]] in [[Italy]],<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.kilkennypeople.ie/news/kilkenny-news/281925/date-confirmed-for-kilkenny-s-official-twinning-with-italian-town.html|title=Date confirmed for Kilkenny's official twinning with Italian town|work=[[Kilkenny People]]|first=Sam|last=Matthews|date=15 November 2017|access-date=15 June 2020|archive-date=15 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200615110146/https://www.kilkennypeople.ie/news/kilkenny-news/281925/date-confirmed-for-kilkenny-s-official-twinning-with-italian-town.html|url-status=live}}{{subscription required}}</ref> and [[Kilkenny, Minnesota|a town with the same name]] in [[Minnesota]] in the [[United States]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2013-03-20 |title=Mayor signs twinning deal with Kilkenny, USA |url=https://www.kilkennypeople.ie/news/kilkenny-news/192210/Mayor-signs-twinning-deal-with-Kilkenny.html |access-date=2024-12-09 |website=www.kilkennypeople.ie |language=en}}</ref>